12. The Gospel of the Kingdom
The Good News of The Kingdom
The word Gospel means Good News and when Jesus started His early ministry at around age thirty, His message was “Repent for the Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of Heaven) is at hand (at hand also means has come or has arrived). This is called the Gospel of the Kingdom.
The word Kingdom coming from the two words Kings domain. So Jesus is revealing that there is another Kingdom that we can't see, but operates with much greater authority than this earthly existence that we can relate to. What's more it will last forever whereas this Earth as we know it will one day pass away.
Jesus was saying ‘repent for not acknowledging God’s rule and reign’, because now with my arrival it has become a reality that you can no longer resist or ignore’.
Gods purposes and plan operating in Heaven were now going to become evident on earth and Jesus would start to reveal this with authority and power.
Hundreds of years before in the Old Testament it was prophesied that The Messiah (‘The Anointed One’) would come as a saviour to deliver the people from their sin.
As Christians we believe on Jesus as that prophesied
Messiah but also embrace Him as our Lord and King. He revealed the truth that
He was the ‘Son of God’ by signs and wonders. Healing sickness and disease,
casting out evil spirits and even calming storms.
People often ask "why did Jesus have to come to earth. Why couldn't He do everything He had to do from Heaven"
You can shout at them, but it won’t do any
good. You can blow on them and they will change direction temporarily but then
go back on course.
God in His wisdom had a plan and so Jesus in
obedience went down as an ant – someone they could relate to at their own level.
As an ant He could stand in front of them could
say “Hey, you’re going the wrong way”
Many would not listen, but many did and changed direction.